Michael O’Leary slams ‘illegal’ Lufthansa state bailout May 26, 2020 Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary has this afternoon challenged German carrier Lufthansa’s €9bn state bailout, labelling the rescue package ‘illegal’. In a statement, the low-cost airline’s boss said that the aid would enable Lufthansa to engage in below-cost selling which would “massively distort competition”. He said: “Ryanair will appeal [to the European Commission] against this [...]
IATA chief: Don’t politicise quarantine measures May 26, 2020 The chief executive of global aviation body the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned governments not to use quarantine measures for political purposes. Over the Bank Holiday weekend, French authorities announced that all Uk visitors to the country would have to quarantine for 14 days in response to the UK’s decision to apply blanket [...]
Sir Patrick McLoughlin appointed as Visit Britain chairman May 26, 2020 Former Conservative Party chairman and transport secretary Sir Patrick McLoughlin has been appointed as chair of the British Tourist Authority. McLoughlin, who was MP from Derbyshire Dales between 1986 and 2019, will chair the Visit Britain tourism board for three years from 1 June, it was announced this morning. He was government chief whip from [...]
McLaren to cut 1,200 jobs as coronavirus forces group restructuring May 26, 2020 Supercar giant McLaren today announced it would cut 1,200 jobs across all of its operations due to the combination of the coronavirus pandemic and the new F1 price cap. The redundancies, which were first reported by Sky, will account for about a quarter of the Surrey-based firm’s workforce of 4,000. Jobs will be cut across [...]
FRC probes KPMG and PwC’s Eddie Stobart audits May 26, 2020 The accounting watchdog has opened investigations into audits by KPMG and PwC of haulage firm Eddie Stobart Logistics. In August, Eddie Stobart sacked its chief executive and suspended trading in its shares after an accounting investigation found its 2018 profits had been overstated by £2m. A review of the company’s accounts, undertaken by finance chief [...]
Airline stocks rise on lockdown hopes and Lufthansa bailout May 26, 2020 Airline stocks were among the best performers on the FTSE 100 this morning as investors were cheered by further easing of lockdown measures and Lufthansa’s rescue deal. On Monday Germany agreed a €9bn lifeline for Lufthansa, agreeing a bailout plan which gives the government a veto in the event of a hostile bid. The German [...]
Aston Martin shares surge on chief executive sacking May 26, 2020 Shares in luxury sports car manufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda surged today after it confirmed it had parted company with its chief executive following a plunge in its share price. Media reports over the weekend said Aston Martin chief executive Andy Palmer was being ousted in favour of senior Mercedes executive Tobias Moers. Aston Martin confirmed [...]
Volkswagen defeated in German ‘dieselgate’ case May 26, 2020 Volkswagen was yesterday defeated in a key German court case claiming compensation for drivers mis-sold vehicles by the car giant as part of the emissions rigging scandal. The ruling by Germany’s highest court for civil disputes, which will allow owners to return vehicles for a partial refund of the purchase price, serves as a template [...]
Easyjet finance chief resigns after surviving Stelios coup May 26, 2020 Easyjet chief financial officer Andrew Findlay has resigned from the company just days after surviving an attempted clear-out of the company’s management by founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. Findlay, who joined the budget airline as finance chief in 2015, will leave the company in May 2021 in line with his contractual obligations. “Although I have given [...]
Lufthansa secures €9bn bailout from German government May 26, 2020 Lufthansa was last night saved from collapse after securing a €9bn (£8bn) rescue deal from the German government. The bailout, which is the largest German corporate rescue since the start of the coronavirus crisis, will see the government take a 20 per cent stake in the airline, which it intends to sell by the end [...]